Train delayed; Sharjeel Imam to reach Guwahati later today

Guwahati: Sharjeel Imam, one of the key organisers of Shaheen Bagh protests in New Delhi who allegedly raised ‘cut-off Assam’ slogans, is expected to reach Guwahati later on Thursday evening and is scheduled to be produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate the same day.

Speaking with EastMojo, a senior Assam Police official said, “His (Sharjeel) train is running late. He is likely to reach Guwahati by 7-730pm. Once he reaches, he will be produced before the CJM, Kamrup. It might be at CJM’s office or his residence depending on what time the train reaches. In case the train reaches very late then we will produce him on Friday. We will decide on that once the train reaches.”

A team of Assam Police personnel and Tihar jail officials are accompanying Sharjeel, the source confirmed.

The police are expected to seek 14 days’ custody of Sharjeel for interrogation in a sedition case registered against him.

Sharjeel allegedly made certain seditious statements like “Assam should be cut of from rest of India” during the anti-CAA protests held at Shaheen Bagh. Taking cognizance of the comment and after verifying the authenticity of the audio clip, Assam government registered a case against him.

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Meanwhile, Sharjeel’s brother and lawyer are already in Guwahati.

The former JNU student was arrested from Jehanabad in Bihar on January 28.

A team of Assam Police who was camping in New Delhi for the past few days, was handed over the custody of Sharjeel by the Patiala House court earlier on Wednesday.

“Main pehle bhi keh chuka hun ki agar 5 lakh log hon hamare paas organised, to hum Hindustan aur Assam ko permanently cut kar sakte hain. Permanently nahi, toh kam se kam ek aad mahine k liye toh kar hi sakte hain,” Sharjeel had said in his controversial speech at Shaheen Bagh that triggered a controversy.